![]() So when do you need a focal point? Almost always. Late-afternoon sunlight in an aspen forest, Gunnison NF, CO, USA You tend to notice Half Dome first, and keep coming back to it after your eyes jump around to the other elements in the frame. But I would say that Half Dome (actual Half Dome, rather than its reflection) is slightly more eye-catching than the rest. In the photograph below, for example, there are actually six focal points: Half Dome, the moon, North Dome, and the reflections of all three. But it still usually works best to have one predominant focal point, a spot that viewers notice first before looking at the rest of the image. In fact, it’s often better to have two or three centers of interest. Of course a photograph can have more than one focal point. ![]() From there your eyes can travel along the radiating light beams out to the rest of the frame. The photograph above has an obvious focal point - the sun. You have to take them by the hand and say, “Here, look at this.” Viewers need something to latch onto, and if they don’t find it right away they feel lost. When doing critiques I often encounter otherwise-wonderful images, with simple, strong compositions, great light, and nice color, but lacking an essential ingredient: a focal point. Sunbeams in a redwood forest, northern California coast, USA
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